Sports
Local Hockey

Beardless Foreurs win in overtime

Edmonton Oil Kings celebrate the first goal of the game against the Val-d'Or Foreurs during first period Memorial Cup action in London, Ont. on Tuesday May 20, 2014. DEREK RUTTAN/London Free Press/QMI Agency

Topics

More Coverage

Related Stories

No team at the Memorial Cup needs a breather more than the Val d'Or Foreurs.

They had to dip into double-overtime to do it, but they earned two more days of rest and a berth in Friday's semifinal.

Tiny centre Anthony Richard scored on a breakaway 1:15 into the second extra session to give the Quebec league champs a comeback 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings before what started as a crowd of 8,745 Tuesday night at Budweiser Gardens.

“I wanted to go five-hole (on Edmonton goalie Tristan Jarry),” the 17-year-old said. “It's huge for us. We played (the) last two series (in the Quebec league playoffs) in seven games and we need some rest.”

Playing without injured star defenceman Guillaume Gelinas, the Foreurs rode another standout performance by goalie Antoine Bibeau (47 saves) and crawled out of an early two-goal hole.

After Henrik Samuelsson gave Edmonton a third-period lead, Val d'Or captain Sam Henley forced overtime with 4:11 left in regulation.

Following a poor outing against Guelph, the veteran leader urged his mates to shave off their playoff beards.

It worked.

“It's a decision we took (Monday) night,” said Val d'Or scoring star Anthony Mantha, who was held goal-less once more. “Maybe for a new start. It's nothing big. It could be (a superstition) depending who looks at it, but I think it's just a new start for our team.”

“It's a knee contusion right now,” Val d'Or assistant coach Marco Pietroniro said. “He left the game (Monday) on crutches so he doesn't put pressure on his leg. Time will tell (when he can play). We're not

going to jeopardize his heath for a hockey game. It's not do-or-die right now. We're going to be putting his health first.

“Our medical staff is doing its best so we can have him in the lineup (as soon as possible).”

This win buys him some time to recover.

"It's not a big injury," Bibeau said. "Just to get an extra day off for him, it's pretty good. We have more of a chance to see him in the next game."

Bauman, given a major penalty and game misconduct on the play, awaits word on whether or not he is eligible to play in Wednesday's all-OHL game against the London Knights. A decision is expected to be rendered ahead of the game.

Bibeau, the Leafs prospect turned aside Edmonton's Edgars Kulda, who scored twice against London Sunday, on a first-period penalty shot to keep Val d'Or in it.

It was the third penalty shot awarded at this Cup. No one has scored.

Bibeau, the 20-year-old Victoriaville native, is 2-for-2. He also stopped London centre Bo Horvat in the opening game.